SWHS teens die in crash

GRANTHAM -- Two teen-agers died in a head-on collision with a pickup truck on Stevens Mill Road about 6:30 p.m. Sunday, authorities said this morning.

Lisa Myers, 17, of Dobbersville Road, and Tyler Brewer, 15, of the Mount Olive area, both died at the scene, state Highway Patrol First Sgt. Jerry Burton said.

Four other people riding in the pickup were injured and transported to Wayne Mem-orial Hospital, but authorities believed they would recover.

According to the Highway Patrol, Miss Myers was headed west on Stevens Mill Road when her Oldsmobile passenger car crossed the center line.

The Oldsmobile struck a pickup driven by Robert E. Thompson, 57.

In the truck with Thomp-son were Katheren Thomp-son and two passengers, Robert Johnson, 25, and Noemi Lopez, 17, according to the report.

Thompson and all of his passengers were taken to Wayne Memorial Hospital, Burton said.

Thompson's pickup was a total loss, and the Oldsmobile was nearly torn in half after the incident, the sergeant said.

"The truck spun around and came to rest in the roadway, and the Oldsmobile ran off the road to the left and came to rest in the wood line," Burton said.

The section of Stevens Mill Road where the accident happened is a 55-mph zone, and speed was not believed to be a factor.

Miss Myers was not wearing a seat belt. Authorities could not determine if Brewer, her passenger, had been wearing a restraint because of the severity of the accident, Burton said.

Wet roads may have contributed to the wreck, as rainfall took place over much of the county, the sergeant said.

A team of grief counselors and other additional support staff was dispatched to Southern Wayne High School at Dudley this morning where the two youths were students.

Brewer was a freshman at the school and Miss Myers was a junior.

"They will be there as long as they are needed," said Ken Derksen, public information officer, for the county schools. "We are working to meet their needs. Our hearts go out to the families of those students.

"Anytime something like this happens it affects students, staff and parents."